Rug making apparatus



Sept. 30, 1958 F. w. HARTSTEIN 2,853,963

RUG MAKING APPARATUS Filed March 2, 1956 I I INVENTOIR.

FEED W. HAETjTEl/V ATTOP/VEY United States atent 2,853,963 RUG MAKING APPARATUS Fred W. Hartstein, Summit, N. 3.

Application March 2, 1956, Serial No. 569,135 1 Claim. (Cl. 112-79) My invention relates to rug-making apparatus, and particularly to a machine for producing rugs having a wearing surface made of tufted threads.

Such rugs are generally manufactured by forcing threads through a sheet of fabric to form loops, which are cut or not cut, and cover the face of the fabric that is to be the top of the rug when finished. The stitching is done by a row of needles mounted in a bar which extends across the full width of the fabric, preferably above it, and the bar is actuated to impel the needles into the fabric, carrying the thread through both faces thereof. The loops are attached to the rug from end to end of the fabric by the repeated actuation of the bar as the fabric is caused to travel lengthwise past the needle bar till the tufts have been attached over the entire area of the fabric.

In practice the threads often break as the operation proceeds, because while the needles often pass through the interstices between the yarn woven into the fabric, they also pierce the fibres of which the yarn is composed, and always pull the threads through the fabric on both the working and return strokes. The risk of tearing the threads of the stitches is of course enhanced when the fabric is heavy or tough and the yarn in it is relatively coarse. Consequently, each rug has to be carefully inspected over its full extent as it is delivered by the apparatus, and wherever tufts are seen to be missing, they must be added. This means another step in the process,

and requires the time and labor of at least one attendant who has at hand the means to put extra stitches to the fabric wherever they are needed. The breakage of threads usually necessitates stopping a rug-making machine at repeated intervals which may collectively equal the total time during which the machine is in actual operation; in other words the effective operating time may be half or less than the full time needed to deliver the finished article.

The chief aim of my invention is to provide means for preventing the breakage of the threads when they stitch the tufts into place. This is done by reducing the tensile stresses on the threads as they are drawn through the fabric, to such an extent that the risk of breaking is obviated.

Heretofore in the making of rugs of this type the apparatus was designed so that the needles operated both to pierce the fabric and to pull the threads through on each working stroke of the bar carrying the needles; and the threads were constantly in a state of strain upon each working stroke of the needles. In its preferred form my invention comprises a row of punching elements extending along the needle bar, each in line with one of the needles and operable in unison therewith to pierce the fabric just before each portion reaches the needles, and thus create apertures through which the needles can draw the threads with little or no stress or pull thereon. Thus, as the stitching proceeds, the threads remain intact and unbroken.

A further object of my invention is to provide means for supporting the punching elements adjacent the needles 2 and operating the elements in unison therewith, and at the same time permitting the supporting means to be manipulated as may be required to separate them from the needles when the latter need to be inspected, repaired, replaced or rethreaded.

Other objects and the nature and advantages of my invention are made clear in the following description, and the novel features are recited in the appended claim. The drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention, but this disclosure is by way of example only, and variations in structure may be adopted in many respects without any material alterationsin the general plan by which the invention is distinguished.

On said drawings:

Figure 1 is an end view of apparatus according to my invention.

Figure 2 is an elevation thereof, seen from the right in Figure 1, the punching elements not being shown in this view.

Figure 3 is a plan of the needle bar with an accessory carrying separate punching elements, seen from below.

Figure 4 is a top plan of part of the plate over which the fabric travels during the operation of stitching; and

Figure 5 is a perspective view showing a needle bar and support for the punching elements, and the arrangement thereof.

In Figure 1 the bar carrying the needles is indicated at 1, with needles 2 aflixed to its under side. This bar is lifted and lowered by connections, not shown, to pierce a sheet of fabric 3. The needles force thread 2a through the fabric, which lies on a plate 4, and is caused to travel step by step along the plate by well known means operating in synchronism with the devices for actuating the bar 1. The plate 4 has a thickened section 5 under the bar 1, and this section 5 has slots 6, in line with the needles, and open through both upper and lower faces of the section 5. The bar and the row of needles attached to it extends entirely across the sheet 3 and plate 4, and the threads form loops or tufts 7 as the needles go into and out of the fabric 3.

In the course of operation the fabric is held down on top of the section 5 by a presser member (not illustrated) of well known design; and below the section is a member carrying hooks which project into the slots 6 and engage the thread at each needle and pull it down to form successive bights or loops, and the cutters which act from below in the slots to cut the loops, if cutting is desired. The hooks and cutters, and associated parts are also well known and are omitted for the sake of clearness.

My invention includes a bar or member 8, affixed to the bar 1, level therewith, and carrying a row of punching elements 9, one of which is in alinement, with respect to the direction of travel of the fabric 3, with each of the needles 2. The needles are detachably secured to the member 1, and the elements 9 are connected to the member 8 in the same way, but are shorter than the needles 2. The elements 9 are pushed into the slots 6 on every downward or working stroke of the bar 1, and thus create open apertures in the fabric 3.

The distance between the needles 1 and the elements 9 and the rate of travel of the fabric 3 are of course determined so that the fabric moves so as to place the transverse row of apertures made by the elements 9 into line with the needles 2 at each forward impulse or increment of movement of the fabric in its travel under the bars 1 and 8. The elements 9 will then open a row of holes or small spaces in the fabric 3 on each down stroke of the bar 1, at the same time that the needles 2 pierce the fabric and stitch the thread through the fabric 3. Then as the needles 2 are raised, and the fabric is fed on, the row of apertures made by the elements 9 will be directly under the needles 2 when the instant arrives for the next downstroke of the barsland 8. This effectwill be continued throughout the length of the .fabric,..and.the .holesspunchedtby the elements 9 will enable the threads attached to the needles 2 to be drawn through the fabric smoothly and easily, 'even when the fabric 3 :contains tveey heavy and coarse yarn. Very fewgifzanyistitcheswill break and-.very little repairing :will.be needed; [The bars 211 and .8, thus constitute .a single .member, :being joined 'together'eand simultaneously raising and lowering=the needleslwand elements 1.9.

To .shift the :member :8 :to inoperative position, the barl is shown as providedwithzbearings 10, in which-is a shaft. or red 11. .0111 the bar 8,:is; a; bearing 12Ithrough which the shaft 101passes and atpbindingsscrew:13 makes the shaft :llrig-id .with the member- .8.: :Theend ofzthe shaft .11:has a crank "14,;and1the bars 1 -and:8- can be rigidly connected to each otherlby:rernovableibolts115. Whenever necessary, access to the needlescanlbedlad by removing'the bolts -15 and swinging the :bar .siaway from the bar 1. After giving attention to the needles, the operator swings; the .bar 8 againintozengagement with the bar 1, and tightens 1116 1301115 :15, :and regularoperation of the apparatus can be resumed.

Hence, by means of thezcom-binationof an ordinary needle banand the accessory member.8, with its row of punching .elements 9, rugs of'the character described herein can be quickly and perfectly turned out, and much time, material and labor are saved because the filling in of vacant spots where the thread ,has been broken is virtually eliminated.

The manner in which themember 8. is adjustably connected to the member 1 can be varied and designed so .that themember. 8. can bequickly detachedand manipih lated to inoperative position, and the necessary parts and connections to afford this result are well within the scope and principle of my invention.

The combination of the needles 2 and punching elements 8 can of course be employed in other ways and to turn out other articlesbesides rugs, if desired.

Having described my invention, what I believe to be new is:

A rug-making machine comprising a -plate for supporting a sheet of fabric to be moved'along said plate, a

horizontal bar above the plate and. extending crosswise of the plate and fabric, the plate .having parallel slots other in operation.

References Cited in; the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,724,463 "Duner Aug. 13,1929 2,411,268 Hamrick ,r r r.fi Nov. 19,1946 2,753,820 Lustig V IulylO, 195.6 

